Penn State Football Transfer Portal Shakeup: What’s Next for the Lions?
Penn State’s 2024 roster was expected to undergo changes this spring due to limited scholarship spots and depth chart positions, a common scenario in big-time college football, especially with the NCAA transfer portal in play.
Seven scholarship players have announced their departure from coach James Franklin’s team this spring, including four recent exits: receiver Malik McClain, safety King Mack, running back London Montgomery, and offensive lineman Golden Israel-Achumba. These departures were reported as the second transfer portal session closed.
What do these losses mean for Penn State?
Here’s a breakdown of the departures and their impact on the program’s status in the expanded Big Ten and College Football Playoff:
**Wide Receiver:**
Departing: KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Malick Meiga, Malik McClain, Carmelo Taylor
The wide receiver room needed a shakeup, as it couldn’t sustain the 15 wideouts who started spring workouts.
While the Lions lost their leading returning receiver, KeAndre Lambert-Smith, the other departures (Meiga, McClain, and Taylor) were more expected and considered fringe pieces.
Lambert-Smith, Penn State’s No. 1 target for much of 2023, had inconsistent production and on-field performance last season before fading out. He committed to Auburn a couple of months after Penn State added Ohio State transfer Julian Fleming.
Meiga, Taylor, and McClain, despite their potential and experience, combined for fewer than 10 catches last season and were lower on the depth chart in a group needing significant improvement.
The revamped wide receiver lineup now includes Fleming and junior Tre Wallace as probable starters, with Kaden Saunders, Omari Evans, and Liam Clifford showing promise for increased production.
**Safety:**
King Mack has also announced his departure.
**Summary:**
Penn State’s roster changes are a result of the natural cycle of college football in the transfer portal era. The wide receiver room saw significant departures but is expected to be restructured with new and existing talent. The team is poised to adapt and compete in the expanded Big Ten and College Football Playoff.
